Malaysia to host F1 test session in MarchFilling the three week void after Australia09/01/07 11:13

A major in-season test scheduled for March

Malaysia will host an official Formula One test for the first time after the season-opening Australian Grand Prix in March, an official said Tuesday.

"It is confirmed. Malaysia will host the testing for the first time after the Australian season-opener in March," Ahmad Mustafa, General Manager of Sepang International Circuit told AFP.

Ahmad said testing would be from March 27 to 29 and all 11 teams would take part.

"Because of the three-week gap after Australia, they will have time to do the testing at Sepang circuit."

"We are working closely with the F1 teams to make testing here an annual affair," he added.

Reports said the 11 teams, who have set up a committee to coordinate limited testing during the season, had looked for a Malaysian test after the March 18 race in Melbourne to avoid the expense of shipping freight from Australia to Europe and then back to Malaysia.

This year's race at Sepang on April 8 comes three weeks after Melbourne. Last season Malaysia hosted its race on the weekend immediately after the Bahrain season-opener. Bahrain is this year's third race, on April 15.

Sole tyre supplier Bridgestone has confirmed it will be providing tyres for the testing session.

Heikki Kovalainen completed 112 laps and led with a lap time of 1:19.185, averaging 201.356 km/h. Giancarlo Fisichella in the second Renault came in second with a lap time of 1:20.467. Takuma Sato came third in the Super Aguri-Honda car with a lap time of 1:20.688.

The Super Aguri team are pleased with the progress of the tests at Jerez with the Sporting Director Graham Taylor stating that, â€œWe have had a very satisfying test this week with the car displaying impressive reliability. Taku had a good day today, picking up from where Anthony left off, helping with the development of the control systems and furthering our understanding of the Bridgestone Potenza tyre. The team is already looking forward to our next test in Valencia in two weeks.â€

Anthony Davidson, who ran tests on the first two days, said â€œIt was a very successful test for us in Jerez. On the two days that I drove we managed to improve our traction control and continue learning about the new Bridgestone Potenza tyres. We made further progress on the balance of the car and the Honda engine was reliable once again, so we were able to cover 259 laps over the two days.â€

Takuma Sato, who took over from Davidson on the last day of testing, stated that they had a â€œvery satisfying test this week with the car displaying impressive reliability. Taku had a good day today, picking up from where Anthony left off, helping with the development of the control systems and furthering our understanding of the Bridgestone Potenza tyre. The team is already looking forward to our next test in Valencia in two weeks.â€

Over the course of the day, 284 laps were completed with an average lap time of 1:20.113

Kimi Raikkonen on Tuesday made his debut at the wheel of a Ferrari. The 27-year-old Finn, who has replaced the retired seven time world champion Michael Schumacher, exited a slightly damp pit lane at Vallelunga in last year's 248 F1.

His 2006-liveried car was fitted with intermediate tyres for the installation laps, after the planned Mugello test was called off due to the forecast of likely snow.

At the circuit near Rome, Raikkonen also debuted a new helmet livery following his five year tenure at McLaren.With its strong predominance of white, the paint job invoked memories of Schumacher before the German changed to a red livery.

Felipe Massa also circulated the Vallelunga layout, in the new F2007. Raikkonen will drive the year-old car for the entire three day test.

E.A.Source GMM

Kimi drove 18 laps with last year 248 F1 setting his best time in 1:19:521--->18 laps
Massa drove 36 laps with the new f2007 setting his best time in 1:19:102--->36 laps
Good lap times as it was raining. ,ah btw .kimi is racing the old car ..and massa the new F2007